The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-25

Of June, 1871, against the Wea towns,
and written to Capt Gilbert Inlay,
and copied by the lattsr in his History Of , the
edition, 1897. Captain INLAY, himselfa resident
of Kentucky, absent from home at the time
or he would have had hand in the affair, as it
seems, and he says the letter he received giving
an account of it was from friend who formed
of the party" etc.
The writer of this valuable source of authority
saws: General lCharles Scott, at the head of
500 Kentucky volunteers, marched from opposite
the mouth of the Kentucky river about the be-
ginning of June, 1791. The course he steered
about north 20o west, and in about fifteen
DAYS he struck and surprised the lower
Weaucteneau towns on the Wabash river and
prairie adjoining; but unfortunately the river at
that time not fordable or the Kickapoo town
on the northwest side. with the Indians who
escaped in their canoes from the Wea town on
the south, must have fallen completely into our
hands. However, about twenty warriors were
killed in the Wea village and in crossing the
Wabash, and forty seven of their squaws and
children were taken prisoners"
Immediately after the engagement" contn-
ues the narrator, "a council of war was called,
when it was determined that Wilkinson Gen.
Jamesl should cross the Wabash under cover of
night. with detachment of 400 men, and en-
deavor to surprise the town of Kath-tippa- can
muck likewise Wea- Miami village), which was
situated upon the north side Of the river, at the
mouth of Tippecanoe creek and about twenty
miles above the lower Wea towns. This expedi-
ton conducted with much caution and
celebrity that Wilkinson arrived at the margin of
the prairie, within mile and to the west of the
town. about an hour before tho break of day,
whilst detachment making a circuit
through the prairie to cooperate with the main
body on given signal. Day appeared, and the
An impetuosity not to be resisted.
The detachment in advance reached
Tippecanoe creek the very moment the last of
the Indians were crossing, when brisk fire
took place between the detachment and the In
dams on the opposite side in which several OF
their warriors were killed and two of men
wounded. This town. which contained about
40 houses. eighty of which we're shingle rooted,
was immediately burned and leveled with the
ground"
''The best houses belonged to French traders,
whose gardens and improvements around the
| town were truly delightful and, everything
considered. not a little wonderful. There was a
tavern with cellars bar public and private
| share of order and no small degree of civilza-
| ton. Wilkinson returned with his detachment,
| after destroying the town. and joined the main
army about in the evening" etc
Here, then, was a city of Indiana larger than
| Vincennes at the time, that bad grown up in
| the wilderness, wiped out, and
whose existance and destruction would
| have been barely noticed in history
| but for the accident of private letter, written
by an eyewitness, to An obscure author whose
valuable history of the "back country" is
| long since out of print The site of Kith-tippe
can-nuck was re-occupied by Te-cum tina and 10
lava chi ca the Loud Voice, otherwise and bet
| ter known ''The Prophet" whittier these
| Shawnee brothers removed their followers from
| General Wayne's old cantonmeut at Green
vile. o., in 1908 Three years later, on the
morning of Nov 7, 1911, the neighborhood was
| again baptized in blood the Battle OF Tippe-
| canoe, and on the 9th the Prophets Town" as
| the resurrected village was called, was again de
stroyed, deservedly so. this time, as it had ''be
come the common refuge of all the Indian vaga
bonds in the country; horse thieves and pilfer
era: wild blades who would every now and then
| surprise pioneers cabin and cowardly murde
the indweng children; all such found vel
como in the Prophets Town, and ready friend
and palliators for their crimes, in the persons 0
! these schemng Shawnee brothers"
| DANvILLE, ILL.,, March Is. .